OTTAWA, ONTARIO, CANADA — The federal government says it can’t help a lawyer for Canadian terror suspect Mohamed Harkat get access to an al-Qaida operative held by the Americans.

Paul Copeland has been trying for months to make contact with Abu Zubaydah, a key lieutenant of Osama bin Laden imprisoned at the U.S. naval base in Guantanamo, Cuba.

Copeland wants information to help clear Harkat’s name. So far, he has been rebuffed by U.S. authorities and has appealed to the Canadian Justice Department for help.

But federal lawyer David Tyndale, in a letter dated April 7, indicated that Ottawa isn’t prepared to help referee the dispute.

“As I am sure you appreciate, the conditions under which counsel may communicate with Mr. Zubaydah at Guantanamo Bay is a matter to be determined by American authorities,” Tyndale wrote.

He also rejected a claim by Copeland that Canada, by refusing to get involved, is denying Harkat the fundamental justice guaranteed to him under the Charter of Rights.

“The government’s position is that nothing more is required by fundamental justice at this point,” Tyndale stated.

Copeland said Tuesday that it’s likely a court challenge will be mounted “at some point.”

“There’s an important witness, everybody knows where he is and how to get to him,” he said. “If there’s a witness around you should be entitled to get some sort of information from him and place it before the court.”

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